Radionuclides Measurements in Some Rock Samples Collected from the Environment of Hebron Governorate -Palestine

Abstract

Using high-resolution γ- ray spectroscopy, the activity concentrations of some radioactive isotopes such as ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in different rock samples, collected from 31 quarries in Hebron Governorate, Palestine were measured. For this purpose, 62 rock samples were gathered from different quarries of the region under investigation. The measured activities of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were found to range from 21.3 to 100.5, 1.3 to 11.6 and 13 to 583 Bqkg^-1, with average values of 47.6, 4.2 and 100 Bqkg^-1, respectively. For all samples, the radium equivalent activity (Ra_eq), as well as other radiological effects were estimated and found to be below the recommended levels. Therefore, the results indicate that the investigated materials can be used as building construction materials without radiation threat. This study can be used as a baseline for natural radioactivity mapping in the region under investigation. The results may also be used as reference data for monitoring possible radioactivity pollution in the future.

Keywords: Natural radioactivity, Effective dose rate, Rocks, Hazard index, Palestine.